I am currently an english teacher in taiwan and I'm looking to make a change over to china. I'm in a really small city here and haven't had the best time. I come from LA originally so I should have known that I would have preferred big city life. I'll have a year of experience under my belt now, and I'll be picking up a Celta prior to nabbing a job. Not really worried about getting one, I'm also not so picky about the type of job - university/ language school/ kindergarden.

My real question is when it comes down to the big cities: shanghai, tianjin, beijing, guangzhou, shenzeng, and xi'an respectively what is everyone's take? What are the pro's and cons; what do you enjoy about each city and what can't you stand.

Xi'An isn't in the same league as the other cities you posted. It is less than half the size of the others.

Still blooming massive though! Well, for a country bumpkin like me.

OP: Having been to Beijing, I can safely say I'd never work there. The pollution was terrible. Xi'an also has a reputation for being quite polluted (when I went it wasn't so bad). Of course, going on holiday for a week or two is totally different to living there.

hello all, I am currently an english teacher in taiwan and I'm looking to make a change over to china.

As something of an aside, be careful not to make that statement when you get here. As far as most mainlanders are concerned, 'YOU ARE ALREADY IN CHINA!' I once made the mistake of talking about 'China and Taiwan' in a class of adult students. Some of them went nuts, and all of them agreed that Taiwan is, was and always will be a part of China. Save yourself the grief and don't get drawn into the discussion. Now I just tell people I really don't care, seems to work.

The pollution in LA is NOTHING compared to the pollution on the mainland. You can literally go months and months and never see the sun.

To your question, I am in Guangzhou atm. Was in a couple of other cities before. Guangzhou (pollution aside) seems ok I guess. Can get western things pretty easy. Lot's of western type bars...etc. Greatest thing is 2 hour fast train ride to Hong Kong. Far enough from the reach of Beijing. Cantonese food is ok I guess. Honestly had a better time in Chengdu but Chengdu is a second tier city. But, 11,000,000 people as second tier city is big enough.

OP, it would help if you let us know what you like about a big city. High-brow culture such as museums, operas, orchestras, etc? An indy music scene? Proximity to tourist destinations? Book stores? Western food options? Nightclubs? Traffic jams? A good public transportation system? (Not likely being from LA.) Do you like the beach? The mountains? etc.

The mainland has MANY cities that are large in the population sense as well as geographically occupying a lot of space.

I'm looking for a city that won't run out of things for me to do, a city that doesn't close down at 10pm. I'm mostly into it for for the high-brow culture: museums and the like, an underground public transport system thats efficient (a must have due to the LA experience), and some good decent nightlife with a music scene. I would like to hear music besides top 40.. I would like to see some foreigners every now and again just to chat. Currently I'm in a location with none besides my 3 fellow teachers.

Environmentally I'm fine with w/e mountains or the beach, temperature doesn't bother me. I can eat anything and don't really care about western food all that much.

Also has lots of history and has been the capital twice (although now a second-tier city and only a provincial capital).

Direct flights to Germany, 1.5 hours from Shanghai and 4 hours from Beijing on the new Gaotie line, has a subway, very Westernised for a 'lesser' Chinese city, much nicer weather and people than Xian and less pollution (it seems). Lots of universities. Cost of living not so high as SH or BJ. Good local cuisine (Huaiyang cuisine is one of the famous four traditions).

I'm looking for a city that won't run out of things for me to do, a city that doesn't close down at 10pm. I'm mostly into it for for the high-brow culture: museums and the like, an underground public transport system thats efficient (a must have due to the LA experience), and some good decent nightlife with a music scene. I would like to hear music besides top 40. I would like to see some foreigners every now and again just to chat. Currently I'm in a location with none besides my 3 fellow teachers.

I think that both Beijing and Shanghai would be more than livable, but what I'm really interested in is the why; what makes it or breaks it for you? What are the big differences that make you so polarized toward one or the other? I will have an easier time making a decision if I have a better idea of the vibe of each location.

I would also appreciate hearing about some of the other larger cities. Chances are I'm going to end up in Shanghai or Beijing, but they aren't the only ones out there.